So. Is ANYONE venturing out on Friday morning?

[Chefzhat]

I'm never brave enough to get out there.

What's your plan? What's on your list?

[suebear37]

I hate crowds & it's not worth the potential savings... I'd much rather power shop on a weekday morning & get it all over with at once. Of course, this probably comes from my annoyance at having to do my kids' shopping from their grandparents...

[SandyM]

Uh, no.

Almost all of my shopping is done online. My SIL makes a game out of it - the "thrill of the hunt", so to speak.

I, quite frankly, compare it to voluntary torture. ;)

[erin elizabeth]

Oh, yes! I looove shopping the day after Thanksgiving! We just started this a few years ago and normally I hate crowds and picking through things, but on Friday it seems fun :p We eat breakfast out before the sun rises and then shop until we've covered all the stores we want and then lunch! And, yes, the food is as important as the buys. Actually though, I rarely buy anything--I guess it is more shopping on my mom's list :D I have been known to pick up a few things for myself. The key is to go early, but not too early. It is never really crazy, or, at least not as crazy as the places they show on the evening news. It is just hustle and bustle and holiday.

[Molli526]

*If* big, huge IF, there is something really worth my while. For all intents and purposes, I am done :)

[jellyben]

But where do we go? There's always Walmart at 5am, but that seems too darn late when I could just go to Kohl's at 4am(!!!!) or the outlet mall at midnight.

No thanks, I'll just sleep. Although I wouldn't mind getting a screaming deal on a flat panel TV. But it probably would involve screaming as I am sure someone will get trampled!

[cangoss]

I'm venturing out to Aveda to get a pedicure with my SIL at 10:30 Friday morning:D I can't wait!

[615bride]

Plus the HEINOUS construction at Carousel Center right, Suebear?

I go to the Mall at Short Hills every black Friday. I'm there when they open and it's never been too crowded. I usually don't even buy anything. It's just tradition to look at the decorations and let DS sit with Santa.

[blazedog]

No -- when my mother was still alive and I would spend Thanksgiving with my parents, we would go shopping at Fashion Island or South Coast Plaza -- but that was more because we were both early risers so it was fun to hit the stores that early before the crowds descended.

We didn't celebrate Christmas and Hanukah is not a particularly important holiday traditionally although my parents would still give me "gelt" in a generous amount :D.

We would hit the really nice department stores and look at the jewelry and high end accessories and then have lunch and gloat at the lines forming at the entrances to the parking lot as we were leaving -- it was a nice tradition which I miss each year.

[MKSquared]

Does shopping for a wedding dress count? ;)

Since I'll be in town -- and so will a few of my girlfriends -- I'm being brave.

[Miss Giggles]

Maybe in the afternoon.. slows down a little bit and then picks up in the evening.

[suebear37]

Plus the HEINOUS construction at Carousel Center right, Suebear?



Ugh! You're not kidding! I basically go there just for Best Buy, Borders & Penneys... and when the Best Buy is done out at Great Northern next summer, & if the long-rumored Penneys ever gets built there, that'll cut way down on my trips there.

I think I'm going to be making good use of my handicapped parking pass (before it expires 12/31) this shopping season... I rarely use it but I think it'll help with the package lugging. Want to go with me?? I'll come get you!! :)

[Terri_A]

I will be venturing out...to the Texas Renaissance Festival! I have NO desire to be pushed, insulted, kicked and cursed, so I stay away from stores on Black Friday!

[DanaSD]

We went last year and it wasn't bad. At 7 we were at Target because they had a great deal on the wagon I wanted for my son - the lines where long but moving so we were out within an hour. Then we went to the mall which wasn't bad at all unless you were shopping for toys - we mostly shopped for ourselves and the house because there were great deals on everything. We left around 1 and the parking lot was starting to get crowded at that point.

The polo outlet is opening at midnight after Thanksgiving, crazy.

[Mpenny1001]

My mom and I (with 3-year old DD in tow) usually venture out briefly in the afternoon just so we can say we went out. But, my mom lives near a small town with no shopping or strip malls - just a quaint little downtown village with small shops. We'll browse around, get some peppermint hot chocolate and head home again.

For whatever reason, we also feel compelled to go out briefly on Christmas Eve Day. Something about the hustle and bustle when you know your own shopping is already done helps it feel like Christmas to me.

[avariell]

I lovvvvvvvvve going out the day after Thanksgiving. My Mom and I have done it for as long as I can remember. It is never as crazy as the media makes it seem. I also prefer going to an open-air mall so you can get outside and breathe some fresh air between stores. Easton, here I come :)

Mary Kate- where are you headed?

[Hammster]

I don't usually go to the packed malls the day after, but I do sometimes go out shopping. This Friday I'll likely head to Sur LaTable as I have a gift to pick up there. Luckily it's in the opposite direction of all the craziness.

[RecipeGirl]

Ew, yuck. I could hardly stand to go to the grocery store yesterday. PACKED!!!! Target was packed too. Fortunately, I have most of my Christmas shopping done already. I've been picking things up here and there. Thank goodness, because the crowds are awful to fight, not to mention the parking. I think I'll finish things up while DS is in school the next couple of weeks. Arriving at 10am when they open is a good thing!

[Hammster]

Ew, yuck. I could hardly stand to go to the grocery store yesterday. PACKED!!!! Target was packed too. Fortunately, I have most of my Christmas shopping done already. I've been picking things up here and there. Thank goodness, because the crowds are awful to fight, not to mention the parking. I think I'll finish things up while DS is in school the next couple of weeks. Arriving at 10am when they open is a good thing!


We stay FAR away from Mission and Fashion Valley malls on Friday. It's just insane down there.

[aggie94]

Morning? Not exactly. A local aquarium store is having a "midnight madness" sale from midnight to 4 a.m. and DH wants to go. :eek: I told him I might be up for the midnight part, but if he's planning to stick around until 3 a.m. when prices get really cheap, he's on his own!

[misskitty100]

We may go to the mall. The Lego store is "sort of" having a sale and Legos are pretty much the last thing on my list that I need to get.


My Mom and I always used to go to the Black Friday sales. We had so much fun. We would hit tons of stores - the drugstore for cards or wrapping paper, Kmart for toys etc. Now that I have small kids, I can't imagine doing Thanksgiving then getting up at 4am with my kids to go shopping. No thanks!!;)

[Loremma]

I'm going to give it a try this year. I went one year when they had DVD players on sale and was in and out of the store in 10 minutes. I'll have to get my list ready and I think it'll be fun. I never thought of the breakfast before and lunch after. Sounds like fun!

[MKSquared]

I lovvvvvvvvve going out the day after Thanksgiving. My Mom and I have done it for as long as I can remember. It is never as crazy as the media makes it seem. I also prefer going to an open-air mall so you can get outside and breathe some fresh air between stores. Easton, here I come :)

Mary Kate- where are you headed?

I'm headed to Cleveland. :D If I feel the need for the Easton experience, I can head to Crocker Park ... :cool:

[TKay]

This is the first year ever that I've planned to venture out into the madness. I'm on a money-saving kick right now, and so I'm looking for some good deals. I'm not sure what time I'll head out. I'm coming up with an exact list of items I'm looking to purchase. I hope I can get in and out without too much hassle. (Btw, I NEVER thought I'd go shopping on the day after. Never say never, I guess. :D )

[sneezles]

Uh, no.

Almost all of my shopping is done online. My SIL makes a game out of it - the "thrill of the hunt", so to speak.

I, quite frankly, compare it to voluntary torture. ;)

LOL! After spending 15 years on the other side of the counter I have absolutely no desire to get out of that day! My shopping is done though waiting on a few deliveries. Gosh, I love online shopping! Still amazed how many sites offer free shipping but that's what I look for!

[donnamp14]

In our area, Kohl's is advertising the fact that they open at 4:00 a.m. on Friday. As if!

Friday I usually treat myself to a tour of some local antique stores around noon and then come home and decorate the outside of the house, if it's not too cold/wet/snowy. Then I make the shopping list for the holidays. It's pretty small these days, and that's a good thing.

4:00 a.m. Indeed!

-Donna

[Jalapeno]

Yeah I think I will. Avariell is right, it's really not as bad as the media makes it out. I've spotted a few xbox games for my son I want to pick up.

We have an outlet mall near my house that is starting it's sale at midnight Thursday! My girlfriend is trying to drag me out to that but I have a feeling I'll be to exhausted to even entertain that idea.

[Clover]

Morning? Not exactly. A local aquarium store is having a "midnight madness" sale from midnight to 4 a.m. and DH wants to go. :eek: I told him I might be up for the midnight part, but if he's planning to stick around until 3 a.m. when prices get really cheap, he's on his own!
Well, this sounds kind of fun, going to the aquarium store in the middle of the night. I can see doing that. But malls or department stores, no way.

However, I've been invited to go to the races at Golden Gate Fields, so that's what I'll be doing. Horse races, in case I need to clarify.

[linsleyd]

Dh and I are meeting my mom and husband at the Philadelphia Art Museum and that's as far as I'm venturing out!

We'll do that and have lunch and then come home and decorate and do nothing! Bliss!

[Davey]

I used to work in retail, at a Best Buy to be specific. However, I would never do that again, nor would I ever venture out on "black Friday".

[jem927]

Ummm.. not a chance!

I have never really understood the idea of the madness on the day after. To me, it is a perfectly good day to spend with friends and family over the holiday - at home.. Turkey soup, fresh homemade rolls, etc...

But I know dbf and I have to make a quick run to the farmers market for another gathering we are having over the weekend.

As for my Christmas shopping - I haven't started. :o But I intend to make full use of online specials and, as they say, let my fingers do the walking.

But for those of you heading out, I'll say a prayer for you!

Jamie

[buffygirl]

DH and I love shopping on Black Friday. We are early risers and have been known to pick up a few "Door Buster Specials".:p

Does anyone know when the newspaper ads for Friday come out???That confuses me every year and I get caugh scrambling!


Kim

[raka1214]

no, no, no, and oh yeah, no.

I plan on sleeping in just a little bit, not much since DH has to work and I will get up and fix his breakfast but other than nope. I'm going to head up to the church a little later in the day and fix things up for our church-wide Thanksgiving celebration that will be held Sunday morning after service but other than that I have no plans for anything more strenous than pushing a broom across a tile floor.

[Robyn1007]

I might head into the North Face store in Boulder just because I need to try on a couple of things for ordering from a friend and I'll be up there anyhow. But that's it!

[TKay]

For those who shop for sport (haha), do you really save that much money on the Friday after? Like I said earlier, I've not done it. I hope I'm not disappointed with the savings.

[Hammster]

DH and I love shopping on Black Friday. We are early risers and have been known to pick up a few "Door Buster Specials".:p

Does anyone know when the newspaper ads for Friday come out???That confuses me every year and I get caugh scrambling!


Kim

In San Diego, the ads are always in the Thursday morning fish wrap.
It's like getting a second Sunday paper with all the ads.

[misskitty100]

Here is a link for the major stores sales for Black Friday:

http://bfads.net/

[avariell]

TKay - i think if you can restrain yourself and make wise choices, the savings can be great. some of the early morning "door busters" are pretty good. especially if you are looking for some specific electronics or gifts... you really do need to search through the ads. i know last year, i bought several people on my list gifts, and at almost every store i got something free with a purchase which was a fun little bonus for me :)
honestly i don't really do it for the savings though, i do it for fun. it is a wonderful day with my mom (that no one else in my family "gets" - and that is fine with me:)).

[cumulus]

Does shopping for a wedding dress count? ;)

Since I'll be in town -- and so will a few of my girlfriends -- I'm being brave.

Eek! That's what I'm doing too!!

[TKay]

Here is a link for the major stores sales for Black Friday:

http://bfads.net/

Ooh, thanks for this. Now I can get my list finalized. There are a few people I I'm buying for that I don't really know what to get. These ads may seal the deal.

[lindrusso]

LOL! After spending 15 years on the other side of the counter I have absolutely no desire to get out of that day!

I only spent 5 years on the other side of the counter, but ditto to that sentiment!

I hate crowds - they make me cranky. I don't even like shopping on Saturdays at normal times of the year, so no way am I going out on Black Friday.

[NJMom]

I have to work (retail) and not looking forward to it! I been in retail for several years and never understood the whole Black Friday rush. Actually Saturday is more of a nightmare (just my observation)

[Lauren]

Does anyone know when the newspaper ads for Friday come out???That confuses me every year and I get caugh scrambling!
Kim

You might be able to get some on-line now. I'm looking for a new TV and Consumer Reports has a link to the BF electonics deals. Off topic ... plasma or LCD?

I'm working Saturday at Le Creuset at the outlet mall. Yuck! Was I nuts when I told the manager I would work that weekend????

[Blissful_in_TX]

Heck no. DH and I went a couple years ago, visiting my mom in her smallish town thinking it wouldn't be so bad. It was worse than I could have imagined. I think Best Buy was the first place we went and after standing in line for 30 minutes, we said "forget it" and just left. And the main thing we had even gone there for they didn't receive in shipment yet. We went a few other places, and it was just awful. My mom and her boyfriend STILL make fun of us after all the stories we had to tell.

I may venture out later morning around 11am when they still have good deals but the early morning crowds have died out. Of course, you can't get the super deals on the higher priced items, but I'm not shoppnig for those anyway.

[Leslie Ferguson]

Maybe only to the grocery store where my parents live (small town rural Virginia). If I ventured out there I'd be limited to the CVS or the local bookstore and coffee shop. Maybe that's what I'll do before heading home - coffee. :cool: Maybe later in the nutso season but not on Black Friday.

Les

[Lauren]

Not to ruin anyone's fun, but here's a site with the BF deals. ;)

http://www.bargainshare.com/index.php?showforum=62

[DanaSD]

Morning? Not exactly. A local aquarium store is having a "midnight madness" sale from midnight to 4 a.m. and DH wants to go. :eek: I told him I might be up for the midnight part, but if he's planning to stick around until 3 a.m. when prices get really cheap, he's on his own!

what store is it? DH wants to get an aquarium so a sale would be great!!

[Robyn1007]

what store is it? DH wants to get an aquarium so a sale would be great!!

Maybe the two hubbies need to meet up and keep each other company!

[aggie94]

LOL, Robyn. If it keeps me at home, I'm all for it!

Dana, it's a new store in Chandler called AZ Seabottom. It just opened a few weeks ago by a guy that is a regular poster on an online BB that DH frequents (like this one, but related to reefkeeping). They still don't have a ton of stock but the owner, Paul, will bend over backwards to get what you need at a good price.

Here's a link to a post regarding the sale:

http://www.azfrag.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=276

[Beth]

I will do for schools and charity what I will generally not do for myself. I am heading out Friday to at least one store to get baskets and other packaging for 11 teacher gift baskets since it's the only way to save on all the items. I've done my pre-selections and expect to save about 30-35% there (based on past sales) and a significant amount ordering the cello wrap and some other stuff online. I just hope I can get what I need to get all at one store and not have to go to more than one location to get 11 of each item.

[Canice]

I don't think I've ever gone shopping on that day, but a couple of years ago a friend drove down (from maybe 50 miles away) and had a bite at my place, then we walked downtown from here. It was oddly fun to be out among the crowds (I don't like malls, but the city streets were nice). The sidewalks were packed, the SA bells were ringing, the police were out on horseback, and the little kids were dressed up. We stuck around to see the giant Christmas tree in Union Square get lighted, then walked home. My mom thought we were nuts to venture out, but it was fun since we had no pressure or expectations - just gawking!

I needed a new TV and went today to Best Buy, knowing full well I might get the same thing on sale Friday. I mentioned, in the course of conversation with the salesperson, that I needed to get that taken care of before Thanksgiving. "Are you having guests?" she asked. "No," I said, "I just don't want to be HERE again until the middle of January!"

As for Friday's activities, well...remember my description of my outing in memory of Mom? My oldest friend of all was also friends with my mother, and we agreed long ago to go out to lunch as our own little "memorial" and that it would have to be to a place appropriate for Mom's likings. So we're (tentatively) heading out to Yountville! About as different from downtown or malls as you can get. :D

[tea4one]

Well I'm another one that is not brave enough, can't stand crowds and any other reason there can be to not do it so I'm just not going to go out and do any shopping on Friday. There is one year I went out and did some food shopping on a Friday afternoon and that wasn't bad but there is no way I am doing it on Friday Morning, EVER!!! The best time to do it, I think is on Thursday, if you can find something open then. Most of the time there is never anyone in there shopping on Thursday or any other big Holiday like Thanksgiving. I don't even know what I am getting everyone this year either.

[LakeMartinGal]

I'd love to, but unfortunately, the good shopping is more than 1 hour away, and I have guests who are non-shoppers! In spite of working retail a good deal of my life, I still love to be in the stores on Black Friday (as a shopper!;) ), and miss the hubbub. Lately, though, more of my shopping is on-line, and it's just not the same!:rolleyes:

[deb415611]

Circuit City online Black Friday deals are available now. I also saw that Toys R Us & a few other stores are doing the same.


If you go to techbargains.com it will tell you what ads have started early. There is also a link on that sight for the Black Friday ad.

I just did some of my shopping but must get off the computer to start dinner.:eek:


Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

[RebelsLGB]

Plus the HEINOUS construction at Carousel Center right, Suebear?

I go to the Mall at Short Hills every black Friday. I'm there when they open and it's never been too crowded. I usually don't even buy anything. It's just tradition to look at the decorations and let DS sit with Santa.

I live a mere 15 minutes from that mall...no real great deals there, except maybe at macys, which is why it's never croweded :) Really nice stores though!!

[RebelsLGB]

I'm on my way out the door now at 6:45 am :p

Staples has the memory cards for my fiances cameras for $25 (normally like $50-ish)

I'll hit up target too for an $87 500gb external Hard drive and a toy thats $5 cheaper today than i've ever seen it anywhere else.

Amazon is having good deals, need to make sure i'm back online by 4pm to get the leapfrog globe for $49!

They also have some Wii video games fairly cheap, might pick one up for myself if they have one I'm interested in.

HAPPY SHOPPING!!

Kristen

[testkitchen45]

NO WAY. :D ;) DH is, though. He's out right now. How's that for a role reversal?

I don't have time now to read thru the thread, but will have fun later, hearing about everyone's adventures with the crowds. Hope you score some great deals! :)

ETA: DH just called. He grabbed some sale items at Fry's Electronics, but will put them down and forget it--the checkout line is 3 to 4 hours long!! :eek: It reaches all the way to the back of the store! He'd rather pay more on another day, and I agree. We'll Christmas-decorate today, instead--much more fun anyway. ;)

[Robyn1007]

Oh, that sounds miserable at Fry's! I actually ventured there last year for the day after Christmas as they had bluetooth headsets for $10 and I was awake anyhow. Actually, my father is the one who pressured me to get moving. The headset is still going strong though so it was a great buy and we had no wait whatsoever. There was barely anyone else there.

[Beth]

I did my one stop run to Michaels and picked up baskets, tins, bags and ribbon for our teacher baskets and a few things for me. Between the baskets being half off and the Turkey Bicks promotion, we saved about $75 on the teacher gift items and $94 overall --plus the frame I got for DS was $20 off. The store 5 miles from my house didn't have enough of the items we needed (was in there TH with DS) so we went straight to the next store up the road (6-8 miles further) with little traffic, got right in, found everything in one store and only encountered nice people. DH went with me, which was handy forthe second cart, then we went and had breakfast and came home. Now all I have to do is fugure out what to get the guys for Christmas. For now, I think I'm going to have to take some more benadryl and try to get the lights and decorations out before I have to take a nap. :)

[Canice]

I heard something during this morning's traffic report I'd never heard before - the status of parking lots at two malls. One was 60% full and one was 80%. This was at 6:50 AM. :eek:

Me, I'm heading out to Napa for lunch with a girlfriend. :)

[Beth]

They've done the parking reports here the last couple of years. Makes me glad not to be heading to a mall -- and at our mall, the parking is bad on good days. Lunch in Napa sounds like a good idea. Enjoy!